Applications of differential equations of first order

We shall consider some applications to

1. Simple electric circuits
2. Growth and decay
3. Newtons law of cooling
4. Chemical reactions and solutions

1. Find the current in an electric circuit containing a resistance R = 100 ohms,

inductance L = 0.1 henry with a source E = 10 sint volts given that initially the
circuit carries no current .
Fig.

Let i(t) be the current at time t.

di
 Ri  L E
dt
di
o.1  100i  10 sin t
dt
di
  100i  100 sin t
dt

IF  e 
100dt
 e1000t

i(e1000t )   100 sin te1000t dt  k

Given i(0) = 0

0
100
 100  K
1  (1000) 2
10000
0
1  (1000) 2
2

 i
100
1000 sin t  cos t  2 1000 2 e 1000t
(100)  (1000)
2 2
1  (1000)

2. In a certain culture of bacteria, the rate at which the bacteria grows is

proportional to the instantaneous number present. If the original number doubles in
one hour. In how many hours it will triple?
Let N(t) be the number at time
dN
N
dt
dN
or  kN
dt
dN
  kdt
N
logN = kt + log C

N  cekt ...(1)

Let N0 be the original number i.e., N(0) = N0

N0 = C

 N  No ekt

Given N = 2N0 when t = 1

N0ek = 2N0

 ek  2
k = loge2
2
 N  N0 e(log e ) t  No 2 t

We have N = N0 2t
When N  3No  3No  No 2t

 3  2t
log3 + log 2
log 3
or t   log2 3  1.6
log 2

3. Radium decomposes at a rate  the quantity of radium present suppose it is found

that in 25 years 1.1% of a certain quantity of radium has decomposed. Determine
approximately how long will it take to decompose one-half of the original amount of
radium to decompose.

Let m be amount of radioactive material present at time t.

Let m0 be the original amount t = 0
dm
Now  km
dt
dm
  kdt
m
log m  kt  log C
or m  Ce kt

Given m(0)  m o  m o  Ce o  C

 m  m o e kt ...(1)

Now 1.1% of original mass decays in 25 years

 Amount present after 25 years
 1.1 
1   mo  mo e 25 k
 100 

 1.1 
ln 1     25 k
 100 

1  1.1 
or l   ln 1    0.000443
25  100 

 m  m o e 0.000443 t

To find the time taken for half the material to disintegrate

1
m o  m o e  0.000443 t
2
1
ln  0.000443 t
2
ln 2
or t   1564 .66  1565 years
0.000443

4. When sugar is dissolved in water, the amount A that remains undissolved after t
dA
minutes satisfy the differential equation  kA, k is a +ve constant. If 25% of
dt
the sugar dissolves after 1 min. How long does it take for half of the sugar to
dissolve?

A be amount of sugar that remains undissolved after time t.

dA
 kA
dt
dA
 kdt
A
dA
 A 
 k dt

ln A  kt  ln C

A  Ce kt ...(1)
Let A0 be the original amount A(0) = A0
A0 = C
Now after 1 min
0.7 A0 = A0 e-k
0.75 = e-k
ln 0.75 = -k
k = 0ln 0.75

Now to find the time taken to dissolve 50% of sugar

Ao
 A o e  kt
2
1
 (0.75) t
2
t ln(0.75)   log 2

log 2
t    2.41 min
ln 0.75

5. Newtons law of cooling states that the temperature of the body changes at a rate
proportional to the difference in temperature of the surrounding medium and
temperature of the body.
Let T be the temperature of the body at time t
To be the temperature of the surroundings
dT
  (T  To )
dt
dT
 k (T  To )
dt
dT
 kdt
T  To

ln( T  To )  kt  ln C

T  To  Ce kt

A body originally at 80o C cools to 60o in 20 min in the surroundings of temperature

40o. Find the temperature of the body after 40 minutes from original.

We have 80 – 40 = Ce-k(0)
 80 – 40 = C
40 = C

 T  40  40 e kt

Body cools down to 60o in 20 min

60 – 40 = 40e-20k
20 = 40e-20k
1
e  20k 
2
When t = 40

T  40  40e 40k
2
1
T  40  40   50
2

6. The equation of a motion of a body falling in resisting medium is

d2 x
m  mg  kv 2 , x(0)  0, v(0)  0
dt 2
m is mass of the body, x is the displacement
v is the velocity
g is accln due to gravity

ekx a2
k is a constant. Prove that  log where mg = ka2
m 2 2
a v
Obtain the relation between x and v.

dx d2 x dv dv dx dv
Let v   . v
dt dt 2 dt dx dt dx

dv
 mv  mg  kv 2
dx
Let mg = ka2
dv
 mv  k(a2  v 2 )
dx
v k
 a2  v 2 dv  m  dx  C
1 k
 log(a2  v 2 )  xC
2 m
Initially when x = 0, v = 0
 1
 log a2  C
2
1 1 k
 log a2  log(a2  v 2 )  x
2 2 m

2k  a2 
or x  log 
m  a2  v 2 

a2
or  e 2kx / m
a2  v 2

a2  v 2
 e  2kx / m
2
a

a2  v 2  a2 e 2kx / m


v 2  a2 1  e 2kx / m 

v 2  mg 1  e 2kx / m 
v  
mg 1  e  2kx / m 
1/2

7) Uranium disintegrates at a rate proportional to the amount then present at any

instant. If M1 and M2 grams of uranium are present at times T 1 and T2 respectively.
Find the half life of uranium.
Let m(t) be the amount of uranium present at time t
dm
m
dt
dm
 km
dt
ln m = -kt + C
Now lnM1 = - kT1 + C
ln M2 = -kT2 + C
K(T2 – T1) = ln M1 – lnM2
M1
K(T2  T1 )  ln
M2

ln(M1 / M2 )
 K 
T2  T1

Let T be the half life then

M1
  2, T2  T1  T
M2
  log 2
 k 
T
 log 2
T 
K
T2  T1
or T  log 2
log(M1 / M2 )